The exterior corn murals are replaced and redesigned each year with a new theme. The designs are created by local artists. From 1948 to 1971, the artist Oscar Howe designed the panels. Calvin Schultz designed the murals from 1977 to 2002. Since 2003, the murals have been designed by Cherie Ramsdell. No new mural was created in 2006 due to an extreme drought.
1892 No Central Theme (Patterns)
1893 Organization Symbols (GAR, MASONS, ETC.)
1894-1909 Basically Patterns with Corner Designs
1910 Indian Design
1911 Egyptian Motif
1912 Oriental
1913 Western Scenes
1914 Dutch Scenes
1915 Peace and Plenty (Birds & Goats)
1916 Military – Patriotic
1917 Same as 1916 except Ambulance instead of Cannon
1918 Patriotic (Statue of Liberty – Ship – Liberty Bell)
1919 Cornucopias and Patterns
1920 Held in a Tent
1921 Disarmament
1922 South Dakota Scenes (Moderna nd Historical)
1923 Rising Sun and Griffins
1924 Buffalo – Elk – Griffin – Etc.
1925 Stylized Designs (Sundial – Grapes – Urn)
1926 South Dakota when the White Man Arrived
1927 Landscapes and Geese Flying
1928 Humorous Presidential Campaign (Coolidge, Etc.)
1929 Mitchell’s 50th Anniversary (History and Development of the State in 10 Year Periods)
1930 Landscapes?
1931 Lake Mitchell – Radio Station – Mountain and Water Scenes
1932 Same as 1931
1933 Service Organizations (Symbols)
1934 Highway and Skyways
1935 The Forgotten Man “The New Deals” Humorous
1936 Black Hills (Real Pine Trees)
1937 Arabian Theme (Camels and Minaret Mosques)1938 Conservation of the Wild Life of the State
1939 50 Years of South Dakota Statehood
1940 America First
1941 South Dakota Hunters Paradise
1942 Allied Victory
1943 Same as 1942
1944 War Theme
1945 Same as 1944
1946 America the Beautiful (Indians and Wild Animals)
1947 No Theme (SD Farm House, Animals, Birds, Proposed Fort Randall Dam)
1948 Indian Theme
1949 Indian and Early Dakotan Pictures
1950 Indian Theme Designs and Symbols
1951 South Daktoa History (Indians to Modern Times)
1952 City and Country Murals (Theme?)
1953 Indian Motif
1954 Agricultural, Business, Religious, and Social Phases of Life in South Dakota
1955 Animals of South Dakota
1956 75th Anniversary of Mitchell
1957 Popular Athletic Games and Attractions in the State
1958 Modes of Transportation
1959 Scense of the Old West
1960 Western, Jesuit Priest, Etc.
1961 Territorial Centennial
1962 Yesterday and Today
1963 Wildlife and Hunting
1964 South Dakota Scenes
1965 Scense from Nature
1966 Dancing and Branding
1967 75th Anniversary of the Corn Palace
1968 South Dakota Fauna
1969 Space Age
1970 Forest Fire, Fishing, Pollution?
1971 Mother Goose Rhymes
1972 Relaxing in South Dakota
1973 Salute to Agriculture
1974 Founding Fathers
1975 Bicentennial
1976 Bicentennial of the USA
1977 USA – Civil War – Indian – Races
1978 The Fine Arts
1979 South Dakota Birds
1980 Recreation
1981 Salute to Oscar Howe
1982 Same as 1981
1983 South Dakota Animals
1984 South Dakota Hi-Lites
1985 Ag Profess (Agriculture)
1986 First Americans
1987 South Dakota Horseless Carriges
1988 In Service to Others
1989 Celebrate the Century – State History (1889-1989)
1990 South Dakota Artists
1991 South Dakota – The Good Life
1992 Centennial – Past Murals 1993 Centennial – Oscar Howes
1994 Myths, Legends and Fabels
1995 Salute to Rodeo
1996 Memories
1997 Hunt South Dakota
1998 Youth in Action
1999 Building a Nation
2000 Millenium Corn
2001 Same as 2000
2002 South Dakota Great Events
2003 Scenic South Dakota
2004 Lewis and Clark
2005 Life on the Farm
2006 Salute to Rodeo
2007 Salute to Rodeo (left because of severe drought)
2008 Everyday Heroes
2009 America’s Destinations
2010 Through the Ages (Transportation)
2011 American Pride
2012 Saluting Youth Activities
2013 We Celebrate
2014 Remember When
2015 South Dakota’s 125th
1892 No Central Theme (Patterns)
1893 Organization Symbols (GAR, MASONS, ETC.)
1894-1909 Basically Patterns with Corner Designs
1910 Indian Design
1911 Egyptian Motif
1912 Oriental
1913 Western Scenes
1914 Dutch Scenes
1915 Peace and Plenty (Birds & Goats)
1916 Military – Patriotic
1917 Same as 1916 except Ambulance instead of Cannon
1918 Patriotic (Statue of Liberty – Ship – Liberty Bell)
1919 Cornucopias and Patterns
1920 Held in a Tent
1921 Disarmament
1922 South Dakota Scenes (Moderna nd Historical)
1923 Rising Sun and Griffins
1924 Buffalo – Elk – Griffin – Etc.
1925 Stylized Designs (Sundial – Grapes – Urn)
1926 South Dakota when the White Man Arrived
1927 Landscapes and Geese Flying
1928 Humorous Presidential Campaign (Coolidge, Etc.)
1929 Mitchell’s 50th Anniversary (History and Development of the State in 10 Year Periods)
1930 Landscapes?
1931 Lake Mitchell – Radio Station – Mountain and Water Scenes
1932 Same as 1931
1933 Service Organizations (Symbols)
1934 Highway and Skyways
1935 The Forgotten Man “The New Deals” Humorous
1936 Black Hills (Real Pine Trees)
1937 Arabian Theme (Camels and Minaret Mosques)1938 Conservation of the Wild Life of the State
1939 50 Years of South Dakota Statehood
1940 America First
1941 South Dakota Hunters Paradise
1942 Allied Victory
1943 Same as 1942
1944 War Theme
1945 Same as 1944
1946 America the Beautiful (Indians and Wild Animals)
1947 No Theme (SD Farm House, Animals, Birds, Proposed Fort Randall Dam)
1948 Indian Theme
1949 Indian and Early Dakotan Pictures
1950 Indian Theme Designs and Symbols
1951 South Daktoa History (Indians to Modern Times)
1952 City and Country Murals (Theme?)
1953 Indian Motif
1954 Agricultural, Business, Religious, and Social Phases of Life in South Dakota
1955 Animals of South Dakota
1956 75th Anniversary of Mitchell
1957 Popular Athletic Games and Attractions in the State
1958 Modes of Transportation
1959 Scense of the Old West
1960 Western, Jesuit Priest, Etc.
1961 Territorial Centennial
1962 Yesterday and Today
1963 Wildlife and Hunting
1964 South Dakota Scenes
1965 Scense from Nature
1966 Dancing and Branding
1967 75th Anniversary of the Corn Palace
1968 South Dakota Fauna
1969 Space Age
1970 Forest Fire, Fishing, Pollution?
1971 Mother Goose Rhymes
1972 Relaxing in South Dakota
1973 Salute to Agriculture
1974 Founding Fathers
1975 Bicentennial
1976 Bicentennial of the USA
1977 USA – Civil War – Indian – Races
1978 The Fine Arts
1979 South Dakota Birds
1980 Recreation
1981 Salute to Oscar Howe
1982 Same as 1981
1983 South Dakota Animals
1984 South Dakota Hi-Lites
1985 Ag Profess (Agriculture)
1986 First Americans
1987 South Dakota Horseless Carriges
1988 In Service to Others
1989 Celebrate the Century – State History (1889-1989)
1990 South Dakota Artists
1991 South Dakota – The Good Life
1992 Centennial – Past Murals
1994 Myths, Legends and Fabels
1995 Salute to Rodeo
1996 Memories
1997 Hunt South Dakota
1998 Youth in Action
1999 Building a Nation
2000 Millenium Corn
2001 Same as 2000
2002 South Dakota Great Events
2003 Scenic South Dakota
2004 Lewis and Clark
2005 Life on the Farm
2006 Salute to Rodeo
2007 Salute to Rodeo (left because of severe drought)
2008 Everyday Heroes
2009 America’s Destinations
2010 Through the Ages (Transportation)
2011 American Pride
2012 Saluting Youth Activities
2013 We Celebrate
2014 Remember When
2015 South Dakota’s 125th